Bosnia's Serbian statelet calls referendum on federal court verdict against leader

Europe
Lawmakers in Bosnia's Serb-dominated region of Republika Srpska voted on August 22 to hold a referendum rejecting a federal court decision that barred nationalist leader Milorad Dodik from holding office, further intensifying the standoff between the entity and Bosnia's central authorities.

Issued on: 23/08/2025

Bosnia's Serbian entity, whose president Milorad Dodik is defying a ban on him holding office, will stage a referendum on October 25 on the federal court verdict against him.

Lawmakers in Republika Srpska's (RS) regional assembly voted late Friday for the referendum amid a worsening political crisis after Dodik's prime minister resigned this week.

The action faced immediate international condemnation. The European Union delegation in Bosnia said that the court ruling against Dodik "must be respected".
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250823-bosnia-s-serb-statelet-calls-referendum-on-verdict-against-leader